Construction lock cylinder



March 9, 1965 R.- L. CRANDELL ETAL 3,172,284

CONSTRUCTION LOCK CYLINDER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 1.8,` 1963 Eil 1::

INVENTOR. v ,Por l. (emv/DELL March 9, 1965 R. L. cRANDELl. ETAL CONSTRUCTION LOCK CYLINDER Filed June 18, 1963 Il IM 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Pay L OPA/voeu @Maipo /7 oc/M4N United States Patent v I 3,172,284 v CGNSTRUCTIN LCK CYLINDER Roy L. Crandell, Anaheim, and Richard M. Lockman, Fullerton, Calif., assignors, by mesne assignments, to Yale 3L Towne, Inc., New York, N.Y., a company of Ohio Filed .lune 18, 1963, Ser. No. 288,688 Claims. (Cl. 70-383) This invention relates to a lock tumbler cylinder assembly so constructed that the tumbler combination can very easily be changed, in effect.

Our novel tumbler cylinder assembly is particularly adapted for use by a builder in equipping new buildings, since it can at first be operated by a construction key, and then converted through a simple operation so that the assembly thereafter can be operated only by the owners key.

In our invention, we utilize a key plug equipped with a series of locking tumblers that may very well be conventional. That in itself is a feature of our invention, since it enables us to make our cylinder assembly standard in many respects, and therefore relatively inexpensive. The novel concept of our invention resides in constructing a tumbler cylinder assembly with a frangible member that holds one of the tumblers in a release position. In our preferred construction, the frangible member is so mounted that at least a portion of the member is positioned in the keyway of the key plug. By holding one tumbler in release position, the frangible member enables the cylinder assembly to be operated through the use of a key that will merely move the remaining tumblers to release position. That key will be the construction key used by the builder or his employees.

When the possession of the building is turned over to the new owner or occupant, a tool will be inserted into the keyway and pressed against the rangible member, breaking that member and moving it out of holding relation to the one tumbler. Thereafter, it will be necessary to use the owners key in order to operate the cylinder, that key being so designed as to move all of the tumblers to release position.

In a further form of our invention, We so shape and so place the frangible member in the key plug that the owners key may be used to break out the frangible member. This form of the invention, therefore, eliminates the necessity of a separate tool for breaking out the frangible member.

When the novel cylinder assembly of our invention has been converted for the use of the owners key, the assembly cannot again be operated by the construction key, since it will be impossible to restore the frangible member to holding position. Because of that, and because no one need use the owners key before the owner takes possession of the building, our cylinder assembly will oifer the owner full security, While making unnecessary the actual changing of the cylinder.

We have thus outlined rather broadly the more important features of our invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that our contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are, of course, additional features of our invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject of the claims appended hereto. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception on which our disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures for carrying out the several purposes of our invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions to prevent the appropriation of our invention by those skilled in the art.

"ice

Referring now to the drawing'sz' FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal section of our novel tumbler cylinder assembly, as it would appear When operated by a construction key;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section showing how the tumbler holding member will be broken out;

FIG. 3 shows how our cylinder assembly will prevent use of the construction key, when the assembly has been converted for the use of the owners key;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view, similar to that shown in FIG. 1, but showing the slightly modified form of the invention which allows the tumbler holding member to be broken by the owners key;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing how the tumbler holding member shown in FIG. 4 Will be broken by the owners key, with a simultaneous setting of the tumblers by the owners key; and

FlG. 6 shows how the cylinder assembly shown in FIG. 4 will prevent use of the construction key, when the assembly has been converted for the use of the owners key.

In the particular construction that we have chosen to illustrate, we show a cylinder assembly having a cylinder 16 having a rotating key plug 11 that is equipped with a series of conventional pin tumblers 12. As will be appreciated, the tumblers 12 are assembled in openings that are arranged longitudinally of the key plug 11, and are adapted to move in the openings relatively to a keyway 13 in the key plug. The cylinder 10 has a series of driver tumblers 15 that are pressed against the tumblers 12 by springs 14, thus acting in a usual way to press tumblers 12 toward locking position. The key plug 11 can rotate when each tumbler 12 is moved against the spring pressure to a release position, as will be understood.

As is well shown in FIG. l, we utilize a member 16 that will hold in release position the rearmost tumbler 112 in the series 12, that tumbler 112 being the one which is farthest from the front of key plug 11. It will be seen that the tumbler holding member 16 is simply assembled in the opening 17 in which the tumbler 112 moves, in position below that tumbler whereby to lie at least partly in the keyway 13. The tumbler holding member 16 is frangible, and in our preferred construction, the member 16 is formed from powdered metal, such as is used for making sintered metal par-ts, which is compressed to an integral shape. The member 16 is not sintered, however, thus being frangible and adapted to disintegrate when subjected to a substantial pressure.

With the member 16 holding the rearmost tumbler 112 in release position, it will be possible to operate the cylinder assembly by using a relatively short construction key A that will move merely the remaining tumblers of the series 12 to release position, as shown in FIG. 1.

When our cylinder assembly is to be converted for the use of the owners key, it will merely be necessary to insert a tool into the keyway 13 to apply a substantial pressure to the tumbler holding member 16. The tool we prefer to use is the break-out key B shown in FIG. 2. The break-out key B h-as an end surface 1S formed at a relatively steep angle, so as to have a camming effect that will be suliicient to move the tumblers of the series 12 in their openings, but that also will apply a considerable force longitudinally of the keyway 13. Actually, the member 16 will disintegrate so that portions will not become lodged in the keyway, Iand may very easily be moved by the key B to the rear end of the keyway Where they may drop out through an opening shown at 19 in FIG. 2.

Once the tumbler holding member 16 has been broken out of its position, the rearmost tumbler 112 naturally will move to a locking position. Then, as is indicated in FIG. 3, the construction key A no longer can be used to operate the cylinder assembly. Actually, the key plug 11 then will act like a conventional key plug, and will require for its operation a conventional owners key,not shown, that will move all tumblers of the series 12 to their release position. It will be appreciated that the tumbler holding member 16 cannot be restored in its holding position once it is removed, thus making it impossible to place the cylinder assembly again in condition to be operated by the construction key A.

It is conceivable, of course, that We may utilize n frangible member to hold in release position a tumbler that is forwardly of the tumbler 112, and our inventive concept is not limited merely to a member that holds the rearmost tumbler. It is necessary to know simply that we hold one or more tumblers in release position through a frangible member, while allowing the remaining tumblers to be operated by a construction key, with the frangible member adapted to be broken out through an opening in the tumbler cylinder assembly.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6,-there-is shown a slightly modified form of our invention. In this form of the invention, a bore '17d of a smaller diameter than the opening 17 in which the tumblers 112 operate is drilled through the keywayv13 as a continuation of the opening 17. A cylindrical, frangiblemeiiiber 16a is positioned in the bore'17a and has an axial dimension such that it holds the tumblers 112 in release position to permit operatiorvof the key plug by a construction key C. The construction key C is similar to construction key A, shown in FIG. 1, but iscut-away at the inner end to prevent engagement thereof with the frangible member 16a.

When the owners key O is inserted into the keyway 13, as shown in FIG. 5, the end of the key O breaks away the frangible member 16a, while at the Sametime setting the ytumblers 112 and 15 to release position to allow operation ofthe lock by the key O.

If thereafter it is attempted to operate the lock by means of the construction key C, the ttimblers 112 being in locking position, prevent rotation of the key plug by the construction key C, as shown in FIG. 6.

We believe that those persons skilled in the art will now understand that our invention enables 4a builder very readily to equip a building with a lock that can be converted for the owners use. Our cylinder assembly can be furnished at relatively low cost and can be converted through an exceedingly simple operation. By using our lock, it will be practical to offer the owner of a new building better security. Therefore, we believe that the very considerable Value of our invention will be fully appreciated.

This application is a continuation-impart of my application, Serial No. 20,732, filed April 7, 1960, and now abandoned.

Y We now claim:

1. In Va lock, a key plug, a series of tumblers for locking said key plug against release movement, said tumblers being adapted for positioning by a key entering a keyhole in said key plug to release said key plug for release movement, a frangible member holding one of said'turnblers in release position whereby said key plug is rendered releasable by a key constructed to position only the remaining tumblers, and said frangible member being accessible for destruction whereby to release said one of said tumblers so that said one of said tumblers together with said remaining tumblers must thereafter be positioned by a key in order to release said key plug for'release movement. Y

2. In a lock, a key plug, a sereis of tumblers for locking said key plug against release movement, said tumblers being adapted for positioning by a keyl entering a keyhole in said key plugto releasesaid key plug for release movement, a frangible member holding one of said turnblers in release position whereby said key plug is rendered releasable by a key constructed to positiononly the remailling tumblers, and said frangible member being accessible through said keyway for destruction whereby to release said one of said tumblers so that said one of said tumblers together with said remaining tumblers must thereafter be positioned by a key in order to release said key plug for release movement.

3. In a lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind having a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in .the cylinder and formed with a keyway, and a sereis of movable tumblers in the cylinder and key plug for locking the key plug against rotation and adapted to be moved by a key inserted through the front end of the keyway, said tumblers allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbler is in a release position, a movable member positioned in said keyway in aligned relation to one of said tumblers, a surface on said key plug directed rearwardly in opposed relation to a portion of said movable member and coacting with said portion for holding the member against movement from its aligned position in a forward direction, a surface on said member engaging said one tumbler to hold that tumbler in release position so that the key plug can rotate when a rst key moves merely the remaining tumblers to release position, said key plug having an opening in which said movable member moves away from aligned relation to said one tumbler due to the rearward pressure of a tool inserted through the front end of said keyway into engagement with said member in said keyway, so that said member no longer will hold said one tumbler and thereafter a second key must move all of the tumblers in order to release the key plug for rotation.

4. In a lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kindy having a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in the cylinder and formed with a keyway, and a series of movable tumf blers in the cylinder and key plug for locking the key' plug against rotation and adapted to be moved by a key inserted in the keyway, said tumblers allowing rotationof the key plug when each tumbler is in a release position", a frangible member mounted in said keyway, a portionon the key plug coacting with said frangible member for holding said member in aligned relation to one of said tumblers, a surface on said member engaging said onel tumbler to' hold that tumbler in release position so that the key plug can rotate when a Iirst key moves merely" the remaining tumblers to release position, said frangible member being adapted to break whereby to move in said keyway and away from aligned relation to said one tumbler due to the pressure of a tool inserted into engagement with said member in said keyway, and said member when so moved allowing said one tumbler to move away from release position so that thereafter a second key must move all of the tumblers in order to release the key plug for rotation.

5. In a lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind having a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in the cylinder and formed with a keyway, and a series of tumblers effective each for locking the key plug against rotation and movable to a release position to allow plug rotation, said tumblers being assembled in a series of openings that are arranged longitudinally on the key plug and cylinderr and the key plug openings extending into the keyway to: enable the tumblers to be moved by a key inserted in the; keyway, a frangible member assembled inwardly of the; tumblerfin one of said openings in the key plug so as to: extend into the keyway, a surface on said member hold ing said one tumbler in release position so that the key. plug can rotate when a rst key moves merely the re maining tumblers to release position, said frangible mem` ber being so formed as to break and to move along said'v keyway and out of the opening in which it is essembled due to the pressure of a tool inserted into engagement with said member in said keyway, and said member' when so moved allowing said one tumbler to move away from release position so that thereafter a second key must move all of the tumblers in order to release the key plug for rotation.

6. In a lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind having.

a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in the cylinder and formed with a longitudinal keyway, and a series of tumblers movable in the cylinder and key plug and effective each for locking the key plug against rotation, the tumblers when moving to release position allowing the plug to rotate, and said series of tumblers being arranged longitudinally relatively to the key plug and adapted to be moved by a key inserted through the front end of the keyway, a movable member positioned in said keyway in aligned relation to the rearmost of said tumblers in the keyplug, a surface on said key plug directed rearwardly in opposed relation to a portion of said movable member and coacting with said portion for holding the member against movement from its aligned position in a forward direction, a surface on said member holding said rearmost tumbler in release position so that the key plug can rotate when a relatively short key moves to release position merely the tumblers forwardly of the rearmost tumbler, said keyway having a rearward portion along which said member moves away from aligned relation to said rearmost tumbler due to the pressure of a tool inserted through the front end of said keyway and into engagement with said member in said keyway, so that said member no longer will hold said rearmost tumbler and all of the tumblers thereafter must be moved by a relatively long key in order to release the key plug for rotation.

7. In a tumbler cylinder assembly for a lock, a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in the cylinder and formed with a longitudinal keyway, a series of tumblers effective each for locking the key plug against rotation and movable to a release position to allow rotation of the plug, said tumblers being assembled in a series of openings that are arranged longitudinally on the key plug and cylinder, and the key plug openings extending into the keyway to enable the tumblers to be moved by a key inserted through the front end of the keyway, a member assembled inwardly of the rearmost tumbler in a key plug opening so as to extend into said keyway, said member comprising powdered material compressed to an integral shape and being frangible, a surface on said member holding said rearmost tumbler in release position so that the key plug can rotate when a relatively short key moves to release position merely the tumblers forwardly of the rearmost tumbler, said frangible powdered material member breaking so as to move out of the opening in which said rearmost tumbler is assembled and along the keyway due to the pressure of a tool inserted into engagement with said member in the keyway, and said member then allowing said rearmost tumbler to move away from release position so that all of the tumblers thereafter must be moved by a relatively long key in order to release the key plug for rotation.

8. A lock tumbler cylinder assembly of the kind including a cylinder, a key plug rotatable in the cylinder, and a series of movable tumblers in the cylinder and key plug for locking the key plug against rotation, said tumblers adapted to be moved by a key inserted in the key plug and allowing rotation of the key plug when each tumbler is in a release position, a frangible member assembled in a part of the cylinder assembly and holding one of said tumblers in release position so that the cylinder assembly can be operated by a iirst key that moves merely the remaining tumblers to release position, said part of the cylinder assembly being formed to expose a surface of the frangible member so that pressure can be applied to break said member, and a portion of said cylinder assembly having an opening that will accept portions of the frangible member when said member is broken so as to enable said one tumbler to move to a locking position, the cylinder assembly requiring for operation thereafter a second key that moves all of the tumblers to release position.

9. ln a lock, a key plug, a series of tumblers for locking said key plug against release movement, said tumblers being adapted for positioning by a key entering a keyhole in said key plug to release said key plug for release movement, a frangible member in said keyway holding one of said tumblers in release position whereby said key plug is rendered releasable by a key constructed to position only the remaining tumblers, said frangible member extending a substantial distance within said keyway whereby said frangible member may be broken to release said one of said tumblers by a key constructed to position all the tumblers in release position.

10. In a lock, a key plug, a series of tumblers for locking said key plug against release movement, said tumblers being adapted for positioning by a key entering a keyhole in said key plug to release said key plug for release movement, a bore in said keyway in alignment with one of said tumblers, a frangible member positioned in said bore and holding said one of said tumblers in release position whereby said key plug is rendered releasable by a key constructed to position only the remaining tumblers, and said frangible member being adapated to be broken to release said one of said tumblers by insertion of a key in said keyway which is constructed to position all said tumblers to release position.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,591,652 Ziegliss Apr. 1, 1952 3,070,987 Baker et al. lan. 1, 1963 3,078,705 Morrison Feb. 26, 1963 

1. IN A LOCK, A KEY PLUG, A SERIES OF TUMBLERS FOR LOCKING SAID KEY PLUG AGAINST RELEASE MOVEMENT, SAID TUMBLERS BEING ADAPTED FOR POSITIONING BY A KEY ENTERING A KEYHOLE IN SAID KEY PLUG TO RELEASE SAID KEY PLUG FOR RELEASE MOVEMENT, A FRANGIBLE MEMBER HOLDING ONE OF SAID TUMBLERS IN RELEASE POSITION WHEREBY SAID KEY PLUG IS RENDERED RELEASABLE BY A KEY CONSTRUCTED TO POSITION ONLY THE REMAINING TUMBLERS, AND SAID FRANGIBLE MEMBER BEING ACCESSIBLE FOR DESTRUCTION WHEREBY TO RELEASE SAID ONE OF SAID TUMBLERS SO THAT SAID ONE OF SAID TUMBLERS TOGETHER WITH SAID REMAINING TUMBLERS MUST THEREAFTER BE POSITIONED BY A KEY IN ORDER TO RELEASE SAID KEY PLUG FOR RELEASE MOVEMENT. 